14 minute read
The Bulletin Board
Junko Hurd, winner in the Landscapes Category
Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens has announced the winners of the 2020 Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Photography Contest. This contest not only highlights the beauty of the park but also raises awareness and helps improve the park and its programs. Best in Show nalists are: Chris Rief, Lotus; Jean Altho , Nature; Grace Hassler, Plants and Flowers; Chris Rief, Wildlife; and Junko Hurd, Landscape. kenaqgardens.org.
NPS Plans Announced to Improve Shepherd Parkway
NPS has completed a development concept plan to enhance future use and enjoyment of Shepherd Parkway. This plan proposes ways to improve safety, connectivity, and park conditions. Speci c concept plan elements include the following: a series of trails, with options for a natural or more urban trail experience; a blazed trail within the park’s wooded area connecting to the under-construction I-295 shared-use path; improved signage, communication, and security measures to prevent dumping; enhanced scenic views; enhanced interpretation of Civil War forts, emphasized by improved trail connections; and exible open green space for community gatherings, picnics and play. The NPS will implement this plan in stages over several years and plans to start the design process next year. The Shepherd Parkway Development Concept Plan can be found at parkplanning.nps.gov/shepherdpkwy_dcp.
Ward 8 Woods Volunteer Opportunities Ward 8 Woods engages residents and visitors in volunteer experiences. Most volunteers work in the woods removing trash and cutting invasive vines. If you like to be physically active, spend time in nature, and immediately see the results of your work, you might enjoy working with them. Remaining 2021 volunteer days are Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, and Dec. 4. Volunteer days are every rst Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ft. Stanton Park. Meet at Ft. Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. To allow for social distancing, attendance at each event is limited to 10 people. Reserve your spot at ward8woods.org/volunteer.
Ward7@YahooGroups Ceases
Yahoo Groups have shut down as of Dec. 15. Ward7@ YahooGroups members will no longer be able to send or receive emails from Yahoo Groups. Yahoo Mail features will continue to function and there will be no changes to your Yahoo Mail account, emails, photos or other inbox content. All Ward7@YahooGroups addresses will be registered at GoogleGroup. The new email address is Ward7DC@GoogleGroups.Com.
Foreign Languages for Kids
EoTR Foreign Languages for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonpro t organization that provides language services to children living in Wards 7 and 8. They o er total language immersion, promote global competence, global citizenship, critical thinking, and cross-cultural integration. At EoTR Foreign Languages for Kids, your child will learn a new language, explore other cultures and make friends. Their highly engaging language classes use music, games, art and stories to teach kids new languages. While classes are currently virtual, they typically o er Spanish, French and Mandarin in classes at various locations throughout Wards 7 and 8. eotrlingokids.com.
$200,000 Awarded to Ward 7 & 8 Microbusinesses
Mayor Bowser has announced the 21 recipients of the Fiscal Year 2021 Ward 7 & 8 Microbusiness Dream Grants. Through $10,000 grants, the District will provide business development support for microbusinesses in Wards 7 and 8 that are also owned, or majority-owned, by residents of Wards 7 and 8. Fiscal Year 2021 Dream Grant Awardees are Amiracle Designs, Avi8ted Thoughts, Inc., District Art and Crafts, Ellesipea LLC, FP2 Barbershop, Granny’s Kitchen LLC, Haul Master’s LLC, Healthy Home Pediatrics LLC, I-M, LLC, J.A.W. Therapy LLC, JackiCan LLC, Lee’s Barbershop II, Capital City Specialties, LoveVi_Only, Promoting Love & Wisdom Home Childcare Center LLC, The Write Consulting Group, THINK KLEAN LLC, Total Life Consultancy LLC, Truelife Exotics, VISIONBOARD LLC, and Nail Bed & Bar. coronavirus.dc.gov/page/dc-small-business-microgrants-program-report.
DDOT Opens Car Free Lane on MLK
DDOT has announced the opening of Car Free Lanes on 14th Street NW; Martin Luther King Jr, Avenue SE, and M Street SE. Enforcement for all three has begun. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, between W Street and St. Elizabeths East Campus, is restricted to buses and bicyclists travelling northbound during the morning peak and southbound direction during the
evening peak. Car Free Lanes are designat- Ten Years of Bank on ed by red curb-lane paint. The ne for un- DC Celebrated authorized driving or parking in a Car Free On Dec. 15, Bank on DC celebrated 10 years Lane is $200. For more information, vis- of providing accessible and a ordable bank it ddot.dc.gov/page/bus-priority. accounts to residents. Over the last decade, Bank on DC has helped 10,000 WashingtoEncore Creativity Offers New Virtual Winter/Spring Choral & Enrichment Program nians open bank accounts, collectively saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars in banking and check cashing fees. Bank on DC strives to raise awareness among low to During the ongoing pandemic, musical en- moderate income residents about the bengagement can be uplifting, especially for old- e ts of account ownership and empowers er adults. Encore Creativity for Older Adults residents to work towards creating a sustainis keeping the older population singing and able economic future for the welfare of their learning with a new winter-spring session, beginning Jan. 25. Encore University is a Feed the Fridge Provides Free Meals to DC Residents households. Bank on DC has partnered with several banks and credit unions to o er ac15-week virtual program of singing plus enrichment courses in vocal technique, music theory, music history and movement. The session culminates with a virtual spring concert, an inspiring multimedia producDC DPR has partnered with Medium Rare restaurant owner Mark Bucher to launch the Feed the Fridge program at select DPR facilities. Feed the Fridge places refrigerators stocked with free and fresh restaurant-provided meals to help residents in need. Feed the Fridge meals counts that have low to no minimum balance requirements and low-cost monthly fees. Financial partners also provide “second chance accounts” for people with ChexSystems histories or secondary forms of identi cation tion. No prior music experience is neces- are “grab-n-go” and no registration or ID is required. Refrigerators are such as foreign documentation. Learn more sary. Encore’s faculty is comprised of well- sanitized and stocked with 25 meals daily. Ultimately, each fridge will at BankOnDC.org.known conductors, musicians and teachers from the Washington, DC area, New York City and California. The session runs from Jan. 25 to May 13. Classes meet over Zoom be stocked with up to 100 meals per day. Currently Feed the Fridge locations are Takoma Aquatic Center, Rumsey Aquatic Center, Arthur Clapper Recreation Center, Fort Stanton Recreation Center, Bald Ea- What DC Public Library Customers Read in 2020 Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 gle Recreation Center, Raymond Recreation Center, Emery Heights The top reads at the DC Public Library in p.m. An all-inclusive tuition is $235 per per- Community Center and Columbia Heights Community Center. In ad- 2020 show customers exploring and adjustson. Registration deadline is Jan. 15. For details and to register, visit encorecreativity. org or call 301-261-5747. Register for DC Fray Winter Leagues dition to Medium Rare, other local restaurants are also providing daily meals, with more fridges and restaurants to come. Bucher’s nonprofit We Care, Inc. is raising money through donations to pay restaurants to provide the daily meals, o ering a lifeline to the local restaurant industry while confronting the food emergency. dpr.dc.gov. ing to this year’s events. The top 10 non- ction books are: “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover; “Becoming” by Michelle Obama; “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” by Trevor Noah; “The Library Book” by Susan Orlean; “Trick Mirror: Re ections on Self-delusion” by Jia ToYou’re invited to join DC Fray for a new round of leagues in Washington, DC. Play Business Law Training Series lentino; “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates; “Three Women” by Lisa safe with DC Fray, with your health and safety as their top Starting on Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. and continuing the follow- Taddeo; “Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to priority this season. Register for basketball, ag football, ing seven consecutive Wednesdays (The Jan. 20 session Protect Predators” by Ronan Farrow; “Good Talk: A Memkickball, soccer, softball, trivia, volleyball and yoga by Jan- will be held at 10 a.m.), the DC Bar Pro Bono Center, oir in Conversations” by Mira Jacob; and “Hillbilly Elegy: uary 12. Activities are at South Run in Spring eld, the the DC Small Business Development Center Network, a Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis” by J. D. Vance. National Mall, Capitol Hill, Navy Yard, Anacostia, Union and the DC Department of Small and Local Business The top ten ction books are: “Little Fires EveryMarket and Alexandria. dcfray.com. Development present the How the Law Impacts Your where” by Celeste Ng; “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Small Business: A Business Law Training Series for Delia Owens; “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones; Giant Food Spotlights Products Owned by Minority Businesses Small Business Owners. This is an eight-part course for existing small business owners, including sole proprietors, business partnerships, general managers and “The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood; “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead; “There There” by Tommy Orange; “Normal People” by Sally Rooney; Giant Food is helping customers identify products owned owners of LLCs. Participants will learn the basics of em- “Circe” by Madeline Miller; “The Water Dancer” by Taby minority-based businesses through updated shelf la- ployment law, risk management, contracts, intellectual Nehisi Coates; and “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchbels. Starting next month, all 164 Giant stores will feature property, and accounting from experienced business at- ett. dclibrary.org. the shelf labels, informing shoppers of products o ered by torneys and professionals. This program will be held virbusinesses that are Women, Black, Asian-Indian, Hispan- tually. There is a one-time payment of $35. Register at ic, LGBT, Asian-Paci c, or Veteran owned. Over 3,100 probono.center/smallbizlawcourse. Contact Alison Per- One Eight Distilling Releases Bottled in products in Giant stores will feature the updated shelf la- cich, Training and Volunteer Specialist, at probonotrain- Bond Whiskey bels, owned by 218 businesses in Giant’s network of ven- ing@dcbar.org with questions. One Eight Distilling, 1135 Okie St. NE, has released dor partnerships. giantfood.com. their rst Bottled in Bond bourbon. District Made Bot-
tled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey is a 5 year and 28-day old bourbon whiskey, distilled grain-to-glass from 59% Maryland corn, 24% Maryland rye, and 17% Riverbend Malted Rye (North Carolina). It is the oldest bourbon to be distilled, aged, and bottled in DC. Only 120 bottles will be available for purchase directly through the distillery. They have virtual tastings are on the rst Friday of every month at 8 p.m. oneeightdistilling.com
One Eight Distilling is committed to representing the nation’s capital with exceptional small batch craft spirits. A proud contributor to the revitalization of D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood since 2013, One Eight Distilling is named for Article One Section Eight of the Constitution, which provided for the establishment of a district to serve as the nation’s capital.
DDOT has announced that residents should continue to use the existing 2020 Visitor Parking Pass into 2021. The VPP program allows District residents to register for an annual pass that is used for guests to park for more than two hours on Residential Permit Parking or RPPzoned blocks. The District has also suspended enforcement for the following infractions: expired residential parking permits and visitor parking permits/passes; expired District license plates and inspection stickers; and expired meters. A complete list of modi cations to District operations is available at coronavirus.dc.gov/page/stay-home.
Students Empowered to Tackle Climate Crisis
Washington, DC has joined 17 cities to launch Students Reinventing Cities, a pioneering competition that will enable students and universities from across the globe to share their vision for green and thriving neighborhoods. The District is inviting students to share their creative vision and fresh ideas in line with the city’s climate and housing priorities. Mayor Bowser’s Comprehensive Plan proposal has identi ed the area of New York Avenue, NE as a key location for future planning and analysis. Interested students can visit c40reinventingcities.org. The deadline is March 2021. Finalists will be selected and invited to submit their nal proposals by May 2021. A panel of judges from the District and C40 Cities will select a winner for each city site, which will be announced at a ceremony in July 2021.
DC Residents Urged to Get Health Insurance During Open Enrollment Period
DC residents are urged to enroll in the A ordable Care Act state-based health insurance marketplace. Open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, 2021. DC Health Link’s plans cover many services like primary care, specialists, mental health, urgent care, and generic prescriptions without any deductibles. All DC Health Link health plans cover COVID-19 diagnosis, testing, and treatment without deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. District residents can enroll in a health insurance plan online through DCHealthLink.com, or by calling 855-532-LINK [5465]. Some residents will qualify for reduced premiums. Small businesses--as well as individuals and families eligible for Medicaid--can enroll through DCHealthLink.com throughout the year.
Delano Hunter, Director of DC Department of Parks and Recreation recently joined Tom Carmichael of Sports Image, Midlothian, Virginia, for a check presentation Tom Carmichael of Sports Image, Midlothian, Virginia, for a check presentation to announce the Department’s new “Healthy Activity Initiative. The partnership, sponsored by Amerigroup DC, supports persons with disabilities, through the creation of activities tailored for seniors and youth. It recently launched at the Edgewood Recreation Center as well as the centers in Petworth, Upshur, Theodore Hogan, King Greenleaf, Randall, Benning Park, Deanwood, Kenilworth, Barry Farm, and Ferebee Hope.
Preventing Foreclosure During COVID-19
The non-pro t Housing Counseling Services is conducting webinars in January to provide information about available options for people who are having di culty paying their mortgage, condo fees or property taxes. The webinars are Jan. 13 and 27 at 2 p.m. They are free but registration is required. Register at housingetc.org/webinar-registration. You may also call the Foreclosure Prevention hotline at HCS at 202-265-2255.
Hypothermia Alerts
Hypothermia alerts are activated when the National Weather Service forecasted temperature, including wind chill, is or will be 32° F or below; or, when the temperature is forecasted to be 40° F or below, and the forecasted chance of precipitation is fty percent or greater. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you see someone outside in need of shelter or a welfare check, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911. When calling, include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance.
Pepco Donates 1,000 Smoke Detectors to DC Fire and EMS
For the 16th year, the DC Fire and EMS Department has received 1,000 new smoke alarms donated by Pepco. Working smoke alarms in homes substantially reduce the risk of re death in residential res. Any DC resident who is unable to a ord a smoke detector can have one installed by contacting the DC Fire and EMS Fire Prevention Division at 202-727-1614 or fems. reprevention@dc.gov.
Website Focuses on Pandemic Relief for Utility Consumers
Four District agencies charged with serving DC utility consumers have unveiled here2helpdc.dc.gov, which is designed to inform residents and businesses about energy and money-saving initiatives to help them minimize the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The website will complement the social and traditional media messages the four agencies have shared. The agencies cite tips and tools to help consumers conserve energy and water resources, reduce billing costs and use relief and payment programs.
Holiday Tree Collection
Holiday trees and greenery will be collected from homes that receive DPW curbside sanitation collection between Jan. 11 and Feb. 5. Items collected during this period will be composted; in the spring, the mulch will be provided to residents at no cost. Throughout the holidays, District residents are also encouraged to recycle holiday food containers, empty, attened gift and cardboard shipping boxes. Holiday ribbon is not recyclable and should be placed in the trash. For more information, visit zerowaste.dc.gov.
Arts Commission Issues RFA
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has established a grant program to assist DC-based arts and humanities organizations with rent or mortgage expenses. Funding is being o ered in response to the nancial impacts related to COVID-19 to help ensure arts and humanities organizations remain in place, vibrant, and viable to open when safe to do so. Submission deadline is Friday, Jan. 29. The complete Request for Applications is at dcarts.dc.gov/page/open-requests-applications. ◆
